School board papers: Beaudry gets left behind

Manchester’s Board of School Committee has voted to save taxpayer money by going paperless. Board documents will no longer be printed for every member. They will be sent electronically. It is a small but symbolically important step toward more efficient government. And, of course, it was resisted.

Ward 9’s Arthur Beaudry, chairman of the Information Technology Committee, not only voted against the policy, but lashed out at supporters and even called names. He claimed it was a personal attack on him because everyone on the board knows that he does not use email. Oh, please.

Beaudry’s outburst is representative of a mentality that still holds too much sway in this city. It’s the “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality. Nothing new or innovative can be suggested because, dadgummit, the old way is what we’re used to and we don’t want to change. Never mind that changes can save money and make city government more efficient. Change is bad.

Beaudry is not some old man who cannot understand new technology. He simply chooses to avoid electronic communication. And he wants every taxpayer to pay more to support his choice. What a bad attitude. Thankfully, the board outvoted him.